By: Tobey Schulman
Recap: Wichita State 10 – FAU 5
FAU entered the game three rubber match in Wichita looking to take another AAC series on the road. The series finale was nearly all Wichita State, as they never lost the lead the entire game. Despite efforts from FAU to spark some kind of a comeback, the Shockers bats never let the Owls get back into the game. FAU leaves Kansas with a 19-14 overall record and a 6-6 conference record.
Trey Beard would give the Owls a solid first two innings, keeping Wichita State scoreless through the first two frames. The Shockers would break the score open in the third, as Seth Stroh hit a home run to give them a 1-0 lead. In the fifth, Derek Williams would deliver a huge blow to the Owls, as he hit a grand slam to break the score wide open, and give Wichita State a 7-0 lead.
FAU would try to get back into the game in the sixth and the seventh. John Schroeder would record an RBI groundout to make it 7-1. Jalen DeBose and Spencer Rich both recorded RBI singles in the seventh which cut the lead to 7-3. Back to back walks in the seventh would allow more runners to score, and it was now a 7-5 score late in the game.
In the bottom half of the seventh, Mauricio Millan recorded an RBI single to give the Shockers an insurance run, and Seth Stroh would bury the Owls with a two-RBI double that would give Wichita State their winning 10-5 score.
It wasn’t the best day for the Owls pitching staff. Trey Beard put together a final stat-line of 4.2 innings pitched, giving up five hits, seven runs, and walking four while also striking out four. Dawson Ball was able to put together a scoreless frame, but other than that it was a tough day on the mound for FAU.
Looking ahead, they face FIU for the last game of their road trip on Tuesday, and will travel back to Boca Raton for another conference series against Tulane. Currently holding a 5-7 AAC record, this series will be big for FAU to move in the standings, especially with future series against USF and UTSA coming up.